Monday, February 22, 2010

BANGALORE: ‘Nairmalya’ - a state-level total sanitation campaign to ensure that every household has a toilet facility by 2012 was launched on Friday under the aegis of the Karnataka Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Board.

The programme has come exactly four years after the Centre launched a similar programme. The two programmes will run side by side.

Launching the pro - gramme, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced Rs 3,000 as incentive or subsidy for every toiletless-house which goies in for a toilet. It is an increase from the previous Rs 2,500.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Shobha Karandlaje, noted that the programme was found necessary as villages, especially those in North Karnataka, did not seem to be picking up on the Central government programme.

The state-level programme will accelerate the total sanitation campaign, she said.

Of f i c i a l s s a i d t h at Chikmagalur, Kodagu and Udupi would soon be joining Shimoga and Dakshina Kannada, in achieving total sanitation in the state.

As in the case of the Centre’s programme, the state government too has made known the institution of awards for gram panchayats, taluk panchayats and zilla panchayats achieving 100 per cent target and giving thrust to cleanliness and sanitation. These awards shall be given away every year on June 5 - the World Environment Day, it is said.

At the gram panchayat level, there will be 10 best village awards, and Rs 40 lakh has been allotted for it.

There will be two awards for taluk panchayats, of Rs 30 lakh each. Another Rs 30 lakh has been allotted for the best zilla panchayat award.